Royal Stoke care coordinator quits smoking after 40 years thanks to UHNM support
A care co-ordinator from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) who smoked for more than 40 years has finally been able to kick the habit thanks to support from the Trust’s Tobacco Dependency team.
Amanda Carter, who works in the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Pre Admission Management Service (PreAMS), started smoking at just 12 years old and had previously failed to quit on her own.
But thanks to the ongoing support of UHNM’s stop smoking team, Amanda has now successfully quit and is now proudly four months smoke-free.
Amanda, who has worked at UHNM since 2008, said: “I’ve struggled with smoking throughout my life. I started when I was 12, so it’s been a long time. I tried to quit on my own once before and I managed to for 18 months, but I went back to smoking after going through a difficult time.
“I always wanted to quit again, but it was the Tobacco Dependency team at UHNM that gave me the kickstart. They gave me the motivation and the right tools to keep going. I tried different inhalers and patches, but they weren’t right for me. It turned out that vaping was what worked for me. Having the opportunity to try different options really mattered.
“I knew there was always someone from the team available. If I was struggling, I could drop in or send a text, and they’d see it straight away. Knowing Jayne, my tobacco dependency advisor was here every week really helped.”
Since quitting Amanda has noticed improvements to her health, wellbeing and finances.
She said: “I used to feel out of breath and lethargic and grubby all the time. The smell on my clothes and hair was horrible. Now I can smell smoke more than ever and I realise just how much it lingered.
“The free support provided has helped me succeed and I’ve saved more money than I ever have before. I’ve now got savings in my bank account and I’ve been able to book holidays, something I never thought I’d be able to do.”
“Most importantly, in my role as a care coordinator, I am in a position to refer the patients I see for smoking cessation and I don’t feel like a hypocrite doing it because I have successfully quit smoking”
Amanda quitting smoking coincides with UHNM becoming completely smoke-free across all sites from 1 April 2026. This means smoking will not be permitted anywhere at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford, including car parks and outdoor areas.
Kimberly Perickathara, UHNM tobacco dependency lead, said: “A new Tobacco Dependency Outpatient Clinic is now supporting both patients and staff at UHNM to quit smoking. After securing external funding last year, the clinic provides easy access to specialist, evidence-based support for people who want to stop smoking.”
“Patients can be referred directly via Careflow, while UHNM staff are welcome to self-refer, book an appointment, or simply walk in for support. This service plays a key role in improving health outcomes, supporting our smoke-free ambitions, and reducing smoking-related harm across our local population.”
Reflecting on her journey, Amanda said: “Persevere. Keep going. It does get easier. There were times I was so tempted, especially at home, but I reminded myself of everything I worked for and everyone who was supporting me.”